Doctoring the Deere

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, August 12, 2005

Daily News/RYAN WOOD

Matt Ivan, 12, watches as his dad, Tim, backs out his 1954 John Deer 50 from a barn at the Ivan family farm on Orr Road. The two have been restoring the tractor on weekends and during their spare time since February.

FREELAND  Matt Ivan wasnt afraid to get his hands dirty to restore a 51-year-old tractor as a 4-H project for the Midland County Fair.

The 12-year-old started working on the 1954 John Deere-50 in February with his dad, Tim Ivan. They spent weekends and time after school working on the engine, rear axle, tires, brakes and more, Matt said.

"I think the hardest part was actually the tires," he said. "They were really big."

He also helped prime it before the John Deere green-colored paint was applied.

Tim said it was fun working with his son because Matts been watching him restore tractors for years and he always wanted his own.

"Its taught Matt what makes the tractor work," he said. "Its taught him a lot of how to use tools."

He said the tractor is medium-sized and was once common on local farms.

"It used to be a primary farm tractor on farms around here for somebody whod farm 40 or 80 acres," he said.

Matt said he paid for half of the tractors original $900 cost, with his parents paying the other half.

"I used my money I got at the fair showing pigs (last year)," he said.

His mom, Julie Ivan, leads the Heart of the County 4-H club and said her children have "quite a bit" that theyre taking to the fair this year. She said Matts project has taken up half of the garage and hes tracked the progress through photos and a notebook.

"This is an extensive project to do," she said.

The tractor will be judged on Sunday and will be shown all week on the west side of the Gerstacker building.

"I think its going to look real good," Matt said.

He said hes looking forward to operating it in the fields when his grandpa has an annual plow day for restored tractors.

Next year he might get to try restoring another.

"I dont think Id do as big of a tractor," he said. "I might do a smaller one."